The Thankless Jobs
You know what I’m talking about. We are the people who help you just as much as any other class, but it seems you only know they exist, just because they help you directly and you know they are there. Do you thank us? Yes? Then let me give you an example. You thank a Medic when he saves you from the brink of death. Hopefully, yes? But have you ever thanked the Engie who built a Dispenser which is almost always there for you? I let you answer that. If you said yes, read on if you want. If you said no, I demand you continue!
First up, the Engineer.
Expanding on the example, poor old Hardhat has a thankless job. He builds a Sentry, a Dispenser, and a Teleporter. Then he waits and let his buildings get points for him, right? WRONG! He builds them for YOU! Think about this. If an Engie builds a Sentry to protect a capture point, what does that mean for you? It means you don’t have to stand around and wait for the enemy, but go to them. Be honest here, when you play a map like Well, you don’t want to wait around the CP in case a Scout comes, do you? Well, I don’t…
But what if you are on BLU on Dustbowl, and the Engie is offensive? Well, he built a tele for a reason, didn’t he? It wasn’t to give Spies a free point if they manage to get to your spawn, it was to get you to the enemy faster. And when you pop out, your character will say one of his scripted lines, and you will run off. Doesn’t that sound a tad mean? He most likely be near his exit, as it will most likely be near his foward base. If he is there, press Z+2, or whatever you press for ‘Thanks’. If he isn’t, thank him over the mic. If you don’t have a mic, thank him over teamchat later, just thank him!
Next, the Spy.
My personal favorite class, but when was the last time you thanked him? If it was recently, when was the second last time? You see, a Spy does his job, and moves on to his next objective. SirMax puts it best – no matter what he does, be it take down a Sentry Base, or that Medic that is near his Ubercharge, he won’t tell you, and just move on. Some will, but even then, you still won’t thank him. So what do you do if you have a Spy won’t tell you what he has done? Simple. Look at the Kill Bars…
Really, it’s so easy! It isn’t there just so you can learn the name of your victim/killer. It tells you who is doing what. So if you see something like:
.png "*LOL KILL BAR PIC*"){kind=small}
You know they have one less Sentry. You might wanna check around to see if your least favorite Sentry is down before yelling out loving praise, but the best time to thank a Spy is at the end of a round, or ealier. Remember, if they don’t know you’re happy that they are doing what they are doing, if they get a couple of bad lives, they will change class. And that could cost your team the round…
Finally, the Sniper.
This one is interesting. The reason that Snipers aren’t thank much is similar to why you don’t thank Spies, they do their own little thing. However, the Sniper usually stays way back to do anything useful, right? He just picks off other WCS’s, right? Well, I have a thought for you. Remember Gold Rush stage 1 cap 2? You know that really annoying Sentry position to the right? A Sniper can easily take that down from the left building. I’ve done it several times. There are good Snipers out there, but you lot treat them like the rest.
So how can you tell the difference? Simple, the more the Sniper communicates, the more of a team player he is. If he says ‘I got the sentry down, cap the point’, you know he is a good player. If he stays quiet, it’s hard to say. You just gotta check those Kill Bars again…
Final Notes.
So, you may have noticed a couple of loopholes in this article. “This is all well and good”, you may be saying, “But I never get thanked as any class!” The thing is, if your team doesn’t respect you, your not gonna get thanked. This is even worse when no one knows anyone, they all just keep quiet. But there is a simple solution to that. After an amazing round, be it Steamroll or Standoff, when your team wins, just say:
“Good Job Team!”
A fine rant from newbie contributor Paper Shadow. About time, too – Himmelstoss
Paper Shadow on January 15th 2009 in community, engineer, rants, sniper, spy, team fortress 2
Stumble it!
Himmelstoss responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 9:43 am #
By the way, Paper Shadow, get yourself a Gravatar. It’s the funky nice picture that appears next to your name.
http://www.gravatar.com/
clubtheseals responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 9:51 am #
Damn you Himmel, beating me to berating Paper Shadow for his obscene lack of a Gravatar.
Detroit Matt responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 10:00 am #
Nice article. Being thanked makes me keep my teleporter up instead of practicing sniping. On the other hand, the silent satisfaction you get from taking down teleporters and helping your team (whether they know it or not) can be a more powerful thank-you-high, because it’s you reassuring yourself, instead of someone else saying it. You’ve proven to yourself that you’re an asset to the team, and that’s important.
SirMax responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 10:00 am #
Don’t really know how I said it best, but thanks for the link I guess?
General Goose responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 10:23 am #
Thank me for fulfilling my purpose plz
Coded One responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 10:44 am #
Yet another thanking post.
We’ve seen a lot of these. A player shouldn’t need thanks to be a good team player.
Small Ivory Knight responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 10:45 am #
You know, I was reading this, and the name kept tickling the back of my brain. “Paper Toss… I know that… I know that” then it hit me. “My personal favorite class” This bloke has dominated me more times then I can count, always as a spy. So I say to you, sir: Well Done! I just wish you were on my team once in a while.
SAC responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 11:36 am #
Thankless job is Scouts, too. A good scout does a lot of distracting, keeping the enemy busy to give you an element of surprise or just chip away at an enemy’s health. And what does he get? Maybe an assist if he’s lucky, only a kill if the enemy ignores him or he managed to get in the final shot before you. At least thank Scouts. Sadly, not many good scouts. =P
On a positive note, I got my gravatar to work. =)
Metal_Link responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 11:54 am #
So what you’re saying is… pay attention to the kill bar more often and constantly thank everyone around you. One time, I thanked the Engi for the teleport, the medic for healing, the Pyro for eliminating the spy and next thing I know, I can’t thank anyone else in time because I’ve been spamming the voice commands (they slow down after you’ve pushed it certain times). And I couldn’t call out another Spy because of the same reason, the voice commands were cooling down.
Yes, I realize people in general need to be thanked more often inside and outside of the game, but sometimes it’s just not possible.
But I must say… thanking a Sniper or a Spy is too much. They’ll really have to be working together with you and the rest of the team to warrant that. Snipers moreso than Spys.
And honestly? I’m too busy shoving a rocket up some Heavy’s arse to notice a Sniper headshot another Sniper who’s been busy sniping Snipers on our sniper deck. But I’ll thank a Spy more often for sappin’ yer sentry.
Jesusmart TM responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 12:18 pm #
Didn’t you read the article? He specifically says that WCS snipers don’t count.
Also yes, gravatars are cool
mew4ever23 responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 12:33 pm #
Right, the support classes need recognition.
HelisPoe responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 1:35 pm #
@ SAC
The Scout is not a support class. He’s sacrificed health for speed and a kick ass C.Q.B. weapon (s) (bat).
He’s as much of an attack class as the Soldier, Pyro, or Heavy.
Paper Shadow is talking about MAINLY the classes who deserve (insert italics here) recognition for their exploits. Mainly the Spy and Sniper; these guys have the skills to play the two classes well. A good Spy or Sniper can make or break your team’s winning streak.
And the Engie, seriously? Who wants to sit around with their sentry all day? Even the offensive ones suffer from their sentry constantly under attack.
They’re (Engies) the ones who have the patience and tenacity to build that oh so helpful thanks-for-shaving-30-so-seconds-off-my-travel time-teleporter, holy-shit-saving-my-life dispenser, and that-scout-is-dead-sentry gun.
Which class has the easiest time killing a soldier or heavy? The Spy, and the Sniper. Both can bring these annoying behemoths to a humble corpse with a flick click of the mouse button.
What’s easier to fight? A dead Heavy, or a Heavy with his gun up your rear?
A Sentry gun, or a pile of scrap metal?
What would you rather do? Walk for 10-20 seconds to the battle, or teleport there in a flash with your guns blazing.
So, can the Scout do those things? To an extent. All classes are able of recognition. Just give those that make it their sole effort (The Demoman has other things to do than kill that sentry, such as watching his sticky-mines) to help not you, but the ENTIRE team out.
FlyingHat responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 2:40 pm #
I’m going with Coded One and Metal_Link up there.
I’m simply tired of support classes complaining about not being “thanked” enough.
Kollega responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 4:18 pm #
Two classes who deserve to be thanked CONSTANTLY is Engineer and Medic. Snipers and Spies,on the other hand,rarely do things you can thank them for. But when Sniper or Spy saves my arse from enraged Heavy in front of me,i always thank him.
Corodan responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 4:25 pm #
I do alot of spying, and I do love a thank you from now and then, but you KNOW that, if a team doesn’t have a mic, they’ll thank you by taking the point.
Or, atleast, that’s what they do for me.
Corodan responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 4:26 pm #
Sorry for the double post, but I need to get a gravatar and my story up… it’s not really a rant, more of a humorous ponder.
Slipstream responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 6:47 pm #
I thank the Spy and Sniper when they are eliminating threats for the team (i.e. charged Medics, other Snipers and Spies, etc).
The Engineer gets much less praise from me because I rarely find one that is looking after his team more than that bloody sentry of his. There are three types, see:
Good Engies – They build forward bases, hold control points and help keep the team in tip-top shape. They build a sentry simply so as to defend their friends, not their points. These are the selfless ones and they really do deserve some thanks (even from me).
Bad Engies – They build a dispenser for themselves, a teleporter for themselves and a sentry for themselves. These guys reason they are helping, but in the end, they have their stuff set up for their personal comfort and haven’t given their teammates a single thought. Turtlers are the worst of this kind. Essentially Engies who care about metal more than mates.
Ugly Engies – The griefers. Need I say more?
On the whole though, if ANYONE helps me then I thank them (unless they did it merely for an assist point).
Mooman responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 7:04 pm #
Gravatars r 4 noobs.
OT: I thank anybody who helps me or the team enough to make a notable difference in one life (killing medics about to uber, saving points etc). It’s actually not the best idea, as it ends up in you talking over the mic quite a bit. This eventually makes the steamforum kiddies insist you STFU because UR A N00B.
Mr. Noobinator responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 8:00 pm #
despite the fact that its a rant, its a well-thought argument. i like it
maybe for some people they don’t really care whether they’re being thanked or not. but in my case, i’ve been playing spy (blue, badwater), and i’ve sapped all the sentry guns, teles, dispensers, killing their medics, engis, and some frontline reds, and we still got pushed back about 3 minutes after i made a killing streak……and the team blamed me for not doing a good job. if it weren’t for that single soldier that said “thank you” to me, i would’ve ragequitted immediately
Jams responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 8:29 pm #
I think spies deserver just as much thanks as medics or engies. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been crossing the bridge on 2fort, only to find a heavy drop from the balcony right in front of me, with his barrel spinning :S Just when I think I’m done for, a spy creeps out of the shadows, plants a knife in that fat b*****ds back and disappears into the water… my hero!
Also, I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise to all spies everywhere. When playing soldier I often find myself behind enemy lines with a spy, we spot a sentry and I hold back and wait for him to sap it. But as soon as I hear that sapping noise I come out and launch rockets at it…. I just can’t risk that engineer getting back in time – always feel guilty for stealing the spies point
I think spies should always get a point if a sentry dies while sapped – regardless if it was the sapper that finished it off or not!
zhegoggles responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 11:18 pm #
I know exactly what you mean, the sniper and spy are my favourite classes you see. I’ve taken out complete sentryparks on pl_Frontier, on my own, just by getting behind the engies as a sniper. Nobody ever thanks us
By the way, long time no see PaperShadow
JOP responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 1:32 am #
I was that Spy…
Actually, any time someone thanks me for coming out of nowhere and saving them with a backstab, I thank them back for distracting the Heavy / Soldier / Pyro / whathaveyou.
What I really want to try is teaming up with a good Scout and just roving into enemy territory…
Zorgulon responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 2:54 am #
@CodedOne
True, but then who needs thanks ever? I don’t have to thank the person in the shop after I buy something. He won’t refuse service to me if I don’t. I don’t have to thank someone if they hold the door open for me. They’re unlikely to stop opening doors for people if I don’t.
Thanking, like saying ‘hello’, ‘please’, or ‘good bye’ is not strictly necessary for the running of the world. It just helps make the world a friendlier place. The same is true in TF2. Communication with your team does not have to be strictly functional. Chatting, and other pleasantries help you make friends and have a nicer time.
Excellent debut, Paper Shadow!
Wormatsu responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 3:11 am #
Very nice article indeed. People could take a tip here and there.
SAC responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 3:34 am #
@HelisPoe:
Count the number of competent Scouts that are capable of taking down an enemy by themselves. Count the numbers who actually zigzag the Soldiers rockets competently, uses the pyro’s weapon ranges to his advantage, or knows to run before the Heavy finishes spinning up his gun.
Hell, just count the number of Scouts there are! I do believe Valve has chosen him as an update class for a reason.
I’m talking those who assist. If you’re a good shot and a quick runner, you can distract an enemy long enough for a teammate with more firepower to take him down, which is often what happens if you’re not alone. And if he focuses on your teammate, then just run up behind him and stick a couple of shells into his back.
Arguably, this is an underused tactic that ANY class is capable of, but really, I do believe that only an undisguised Spy amongst the enemy is more distracting than a caffeine powered baseball fan.
I never mentioned Engineers, though… and thus, never argued against them.
Paper Shadow responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 5:43 am #
Oh my. 25 comments? Wow. Thanks guys.
@Himmel, Clubs, and all the other people who suggested Gravataar:
After an hour or so, I got a pic up.
Although I don’t like using pictures from the internet as my display pic, my main PC is down. And isn’t it an awesome pic? One of Scott (VG Cats) Pumpkin carving pictures:
http://vgcats.com/index.php#oct-22-08
Wyatt responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 5:48 am #
@Zorgulon
Ah, then what you are referring to is courtesy. Something lacking from most online gaming these days. I do think TF2 has helped bring joy back into the gaming scene. You still get your psychos but I find more folks having a good time.
As for thanks, its nice to hear but I frequent all talk servers when I can. The best thanks I get is hearing the other team curse at me for destroying their sentry nests. Being accused of cheating or hacking is also nice.
We spies just need a good smoke after our business is concluded.
General Goose responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 8:24 am #
i like thanking people. I like to be thanked, but I don’t stop helping people if they don’t thank me. But I do place higher priority on those who do.
General Goose responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 8:26 am #
And my comment earlier on the post was not me. Just so you know.
PuRe^ responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 9:50 am #
Has anyone given this guy any thanks yet because PAPER SHADOW IS CREDIT TO UBERCHARGED.NET
Doomsday One responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 9:50 am #
Nice article. Only a few grammatical errors too.
Let’s just hope Paper Shadow remembers to thank those support classes as well =P
Oh, and as a reward, I fixed his computer. Everyone can look forward to more facestabs now.
Kristin responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 1:25 pm #
I play Engie pretty much constantly, and (of course I’m not speaking for everyone) I’m willing to go without constant thank yous, as long as everyone isn’t on teamchat freaking out because they don’t have a dispenser or there isn’t a sentry. Before I even have time to respawn after an uber destroyed everything I built the last time.
I’ll get to it, now shut up and keep the point clear for five seconds while I build.
Corodan responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 1:54 pm #
While were at it, let’s make a ThankYouClan.™
The Light responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 2:27 pm #
Done and doner, Corodan. Not making fun of your article Paper but someone had to make a joke group.
Everyone join up!
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/thankyouclan
It’s a good solid article though I don’t think I’ll ever be thanking a sniper on my team. Spies? Yeah, but I’ve never met a sniper that actually did a whole lot, even the good ones.
Doc. (Lights Bro) responded on 16 Jan 2009 at 2:36 pm #
Snipers can do a lot Light. Say your playing ctf_well right? Well The enemy has 2 caps on your 0. The same annoying scout rushed of your base for the third time what happens next?
A. Everyone watches dumbfounded.
B. A Heavy trys to catch up with him
C. An epic Scout duel, challenging that of any movie you choose
(D).A sniper stands up and headshots the bugger.
If you picked D you better thank that sniper.
Paper Shadow responded on 17 Jan 2009 at 1:36 am #
@PuRe:
WE ARE ALL CREDIT TO TEAM! Even the people who comment…
@Doomsday One:
Yes, it is fixed. We are all happy. He gets thanks, and you guys get facestabs. :3
@The Light:
Why is the most played game ‘Day of Defeat: Source’, followed by ‘Day of Defeat’ and ‘Team Fortress 2′? Thanks for making the group. JOIN IT!
This is not my real name responded on 17 Jan 2009 at 4:14 am #
Oh come on, the sniper is thankless?
I repeat:THANKLESS?
But I have to agree on the engie part..they do the hard work ,they are essential to the team but they are always (I have NEVER EVER seen an engineer top the score table on a normal server-never) at the bottom 3-5 of the score table while the medic is always among the top 3…
SAC responded on 17 Jan 2009 at 5:03 am #
@This is not my real name
I has… the attacking team is usually not bad.
The Light responded on 17 Jan 2009 at 5:46 am #
@ Paper: Because my brother is a hopeless DoD addict and he invited all of his equally addicted friends. >_0
Eldrake responded on 01 May 2009 at 12:27 am #
When I need ammo, is low on health, or is just in plain trouble, and I find a Engie base, I will always run over to the dispenser, and press Z+2.
Also, Valve should seriously consider putting in something like a “No Problem” voice command, for these times where someone says “Thank you” to me, I felt like saying something like that.
Sporeman X responded on 18 Oct 2009 at 3:42 pm #
This is a good article.Seriously,spies usually do their own thing,but today I was playing on a control point server,and we got attacked by THREE heavy/medic combos!Then a spie came along and back stabed four of the six people,and NO ONE thanked him!Now that is ridicilous…he saved our arses!
Axe Murderer responded on 24 Nov 2009 at 2:01 pm #
hm. except that i regularly thank spies for stabbing that heavy that my mind decided was a good idea to charge (i just cant stop it doing that), this is spot on. class out of ammo and running away is another great time to backstab my soon-to-be killers. thanks, team america (http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198004847105)! he’s my constant help, and a crazy go nuts occasional spy. he should do it more.